Kolkata, 12 March (H.S.): At least one person was killed and two others were seriously injured after a gas cylinder exploded at a garage in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Thursday morning, the police said.

The incident took place at a garage located in Ward No. 19 of Budge Budge Municipality area. According to the police and local sources, welding work on a vehicle was being carried out using a gas cylinder when the explosion occurred.

The blast was so powerful that the tin roof of the garage was blown away and windows of nearby houses shook due to the impact, residents said. Many locals initially suspected it to be a bomb explosion after hearing the loud sound.

Residents rushed to the spot and found two persons lying injured and bleeding inside the garage. The police from Budge Budge police station were informed immediately.

With the help of locals, the injured persons were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared one of them dead, the police said.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the explosion occurred while welding work was being carried out with the gas cylinder, the police added. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the blast.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey